Compatibility of Festool Drills, Batteries and Chargers

[tbellemare]

Great question about the drill bits, Dave!

There are new drill bits AIA:
493421 is the drill bit holder, set screw, allen wrench, actual 3.0 mm HSS drill bit to go in the holder, and two spare 3.0 mm HSS drill bit
493437 is a set of 10 spare 3.0 mm HSS drill bits to replace the worn out bits in the above holder.

These bits are like the one that probably came with your Festool drill if your drill came with a Centrotec Starter Set. They are capable of drilling something harder than wood, like most metals.

I think the catalog just has some loose definitions of the package set. If you look at the top of page 132 in the chart, it shows that all 3 drills come standard with the Centrotec Starter Set and the FastFix Keyless Chuck.

Tom

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks, Tom.

If I made a purchase based on the listing in the catalog, I would expect to receive what is clearly pictured and not otherwise described.  I think Festool USA has a problem they need to correct.  I remember replaceable drill bits in Centrotec holders being mentioned in FOG about the limited time the large Centrotec Drill Bit Sets were being offered in USA.

If a replacement 3.0 mm bit for the bit holder costs the same amount as a 3.0 mm bit with an integral Centrotec hex shank, why bother with the replacement 3.0 mm bits with round shanks having a flat ground area?  To me, the driving reason to obtain a collection of Centrotec bit holders would be to use them with round shank bits that are slightly larger or slightly smaller than 3.0mm, as can be done with Snappy brand collet style bit holders.  So the logic behind Festool USA's current drill set and drill bit offerings remains a "little bit" illogical to me.

Dave R.

 

[tbellemare]

If I understand you correctly, Dave, you are looking at the 492512, which is a brad point wood drill bit that has an integral Centrotec shaft. It's on page 134.

However, 493437 is a package of TEN HSS metal cutting replacement bits for the holder you get with 493421.

So the new offerings are for cutting hard things (or wood) and have replaceable bits because they are a lot more likely to wear out than a bit that is used just to cut wood (I assume).

Tom

 

[tbellemare]

For people who aren't familiar with the Centrotec System, the Centrotec Chuck is light weight and holds the bits securely. It also holds the bits deep enough that they are engaged in a tight-fitting hex cavity in the end of the shaft of the drill motor.

The fact that it is held pretty snuggly in the shaft of the drill motor AND also in the grip of the chuck, farther down the shaft of the drill bit (or drill bit holder), is why they run so true, while also being quick-change bits.

Tom